This trip has little to recommend. After a long approach we only reached the base of cliff, not even a summit. However, at this time of year there are few options and this trip offers views of possible summits to attempt another time.

Following a creek won't result in a loop, of course, but after hiking up Cougar Creek we took the east fork, climbed over a ridge, and returned on the northwest fork.

When we set out on the trail, I was hoping to reach a ridge in an area that was rugged, rife with cliffs. Summiting was out of the question but I wanted to climb at least high enough to study the surrounding peaks.

Initially we thought we could hike up the right fork and climb the skyline ridge. However, an hour later the skyline ridge was still far away, so we left the creek and blindly headed up a wooded slope.

Much of it was steep and wooded. I was concerned we would have to turn back but eventually we appeared on a knob. From there we could see a scree gully that looked possible to ascend although a cliff above it barred the way from climbing higher. After working through more trees we came out on the gully. We struggled up the scree to a cliff face and then headed left along its base. We soon reached a corner at the cliff base which was as high as we could go. Everywhere cliffs towered above us.

Rather than go back the same way, we decided to take a chance and descend the west slope. We soon hit a cliff band that worried us; if forced to turn back it would have made for a very long day. But after following it a ways the cliff band ended and we dropped down to the creek bed of the left fork.

MOVIE (1:10)